Chapter Text
In a battle-damaged airship high in the sky, two cats named Capper and Chummer were trying to survive. They were barely able to escape the attack of the Storm King. Chummer is struggling to keep their airship afloat, and they're about to crash-land. Chummer holds onto Capper.
Chummer: "Hold on tight!"
They crash-landed in the middle of a desert. Capper was the first to get out of the sand. He looks around for his friend until he finds a paw sticking out.
Capper: "Hold on, Chummer, I'm coming."
He ran over to him and dug him out.
Chummer: (coughing) "Oh, thank you."
Capper: "Sure thing, bro, now come on."
They went over to where their ship was and salvaged what they could from the wreckage, including the Misfortune Malachite, which they believed they could sell off for some money.
After some time of walking through the desert, Capper and Chummer end up in the rundown city of Klugetown. Using their cat-like wits, Capper and Chummer were able to secure some food and settle down inside the windmill tower.
Capper, tired of running and stealing, wishes for a place to call home, but Chummer reminds him of their old lives as Abyssinian orphans and says they'll make it anywhere as long as they have each other.
Over the next few days, Capper and Chummer swindle and pickpocket the residents of Klugetown for money and root around in the garbage for food. Their actions draw the attention of suit-wearing goons in the shadows. Unable to scrounge up enough food to eat and money, they aren't able to leave town.
Capper is about to come up with an idea when he sees 3 big fish creatures dangling a younger one upside down.
Big Fish 1: "Are you going to cooperate with us or are we going to have to make you scream?"
Chummer suggested they should leave, but something in Capper said that he should help her. He ran over to them, grabbed the kid, placed her down, and then attacked them. He tackled the first one, lifted him, and threw him at the other two. Capper hissed at them, which caused them to run away.
Capper: "Yeah, you better run away! If you ever threaten this, or any other child again, I'll make you very sorry!"
Capper calmed down and looked around him. A crowd had gathered around him, with Chummer being one of them. All of them had a shocked expression. After a few moments of silence, one of the creatures walked up to Capper and spoke.
Creature: "What you did there was very brave and heroic."
This caused the crowd to start clapping and cheering. Capper was blushing at this.
Capper: "Oh my. This is what it feels like to be an actual hero?"
The crowd ran towards him to pick him up and throw him in the air. Chummer was the only one not to join in. As a reward, they decided to give him a new outfit. It was a red coat with a black cape, and a hat with a feather on it.
Many days passed, and Capper had been dealing with more and more criminals while Chummer just stayed out of sight, seeing as how Capper wasn't into thieving anymore. One day, Capper had entered their old secret little hideout. Chummer didn't care.
Chummer: "Well, look who finally has decided to come back to "our" home. What brings you here?"
Capper: "I just wanted to see you again."
Chummer: "Why bother? Are you sure you don't want to bring me to justice? Seeing as how you're a town hero and no longer a carefree thief!"
Capper: "Not at all. Besides, this isn't anything like trying to steal things like lollipops!"
Chummer brightened up with an idea.
Chummer: "Exactly, we have to be smarter about these. I have some ide-"
Capper interrupted Chummer by raising his paw in his face.
Capper: "Stop, we are better than this!"
Chummer just looked away in frustration, but after a few seconds became a little sad and looked back at Capper.
Chummer: "But aren't we brothers?"
Capper hugs him.
Capper: "We are brothers in arms,"
He then lets go of him.
Capper: "but I will not steal anymore."
He then left. Chummer didn't say anything; he just looked down in frustration.
The next day, Capper saves more of the citizens of the town, still having Chummer on his mind. But then, he sees Chummer walking with two big, rhino-like goons in an alleyway. He decided to follow them in secret.
He tracks them into a building underground. Still in the shadows, he sees Chummer talking to a mole creature, the leader of Klugetown's criminal underworld named Verko. He speaks of great fortune to Chummer if he brings in Capper, but Chummer doesn't want to do it and instead offers him a different deal.
He wants the Misfortune Malachite in exchange for some money. Verko isn't happy about this, but he then recognizes the magical artifact, indicating he knows its true monetary worth. Chummer takes advantage of this and requests for a fully stocked and heavily armed skyship in exchange for the Malachite.
That night, Chummer dwells heavily on Verko's words. Just then, Capper appears right in front of him.
Capper: "Are you really going to go through with a deal from a crime boss?"
Chummer was caught off guard by this.
Chummer: "You heard?"
Capper: "Every word of it."
Chummer: "Well... I don't know. I keep thinking about what Verko said. Maybe I will accept it."
Capper wasn't happy to hear about this, but before he could say anything, Chummer continued.
Chummer: "Maybe Verko isn't what you think he is. He sounded very convincing."
Capper: "Are you hearing yourself correctly?!"
Chummer: "As clear as day. I don't belong here. Being a thief is what I'm best at."
Capper said no more and just left for his new apartment room.
The next morning, Verko and his goons provide Chummer with the skyship he requested. Chummer heads onto the ship's deck first to check it out. He gives Verko the Malachite once he gives the go-ahead. Moments later, however, the rope ladder leading up to the deck is severed, and the ship starts to take off.
Capper stood there watching. He noticed something was off. He sees Verko with a button in his hands.
Verko: "As soon as I push this button, he will go boom."
Realizing that Chummer was tricked, he runs over to where the boat was taking off and grabs onto a rope dangling from the skyship before it flies out of reach and climbs up to the deck.
Capper: "Get off the ship now!"
Chummer: "No! I already told you, I don't belong here!"
Capper: "You don't understand! This is going to blow!"
Chummer: "Nice try, but I'm not falling for that!"
Unwilling to listen, Chummer rocks the ship back and forth and tries to shake Capper off.
In the meantime, Verko pushed the button. As Capper hangs over the edge of the deck, he begs Chummer to help him, but Chummer chooses not to help him.
Chummer: "You should have stayed in the thieving life with me, brother! Now you're going to fall into the ocean."
Before he could do anything, they both started to hear ticking in the bunker. Chummer opens the door underneath and realizes Capper was right. He runs over to Capper, still hanging on, to try and help him, but slips onto some oil that was spilled during the rocking and hits a barrel, breaking his leg. Chummer crawls over to Capper.
Chummer: "I'm sorry!"
He then throws him off, and Capper lands back in Klugetown. The ship then blows up with Chummer still on it.
Verko: "Haha. That's why you never make a deal with the king of crime!"
He looks at the gem and realizes it's a fake. Verko gets upset at this and leaves, throwing away the fake artifact. Heartbroken by his friend's death, Capper declares that Chummer will never be forgotten and walks away.
Capper: "I promise you, Verko, you will pay for what you've done."